New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-20
4 TINE no STAND FIRM

Ii is no cause for surprise that petitions for
the pardon of the Anarchists are receiving
many signatures in Chicago. There arc always
fools to sympathize with murdercrs, but who
never give a thought to their victims. There
are always weak-minded persons who sign
any petition presented to them, whether it is
to put rogue or blockhead into an Office
or to let a criminal loose upon society. 1t is
pity, no doubt, that people should be born
without brains, but it is too late to quarrel
with Nature for little eccentricities OF that
kind. 1t may be that these petitions will re-
cciye many thousand signatures. IL may
even be that they will receive so many as to
be mistaken by some for the expression of
public sentiment.
We shall all hope TO be spared anv such
exhibition OF maudlin sentiment. But if it
should come. Governor OglcSby would lind
that he had in his hands the decision OF an
issue Of National Importance. These men are
not ordinary criminals The question raised
here bears no relation TO the considerations
Of expedicncy commonly involved in the par
don of maefactors. The unwiSe release OF a
murderer or burglar may have serious re-
suits. but the harm that would be done would,
after all spend itself within narrow circle.
But if these men should be pardoned. or their
sentence should be committed. which would
doubtless be only the first step toward a
pardon at some future day.-the news would
send thrill Of JOY through every band OF
Anarchists in America and Europe Every
man who breaches assassination and dcstruc-
ton would be elatcd. In Europe 1t would be
hot IN tho Rgnublic
license and liberty were ono and the same
thing 1t would I've said that. having got our
bands on the Threats Of these mlscicants' We
lost courage. and instead of choking There
lives out of them To protect our own We
lost courage and weakly let them 90. In
this country every lawleSs element would take
heart at once and go on with new plans for
spreading their gospel of murder. The par
don of these men would multiply hundred
fold every danger that exists to-day from this
class in our population. THIS would be a
fearful responsibility for an Executive TO take.
The counsel for the prisoners claims that
the prosecuting officer viii urge clemency as
10 several of these men. The authority for
the statement is poor. and when the prosecut-
ing officer does this it will be time enough to
DISCUSS MS tCtlOH. MtduliiLcs IL 'h'AS nv
persons who have a vague notion that II is :,
hardship to hang man who has not actually
killed another with his own hand, it may be
well to quote to them the language Of tho
illinois statute regarding accessories. This
declares that "an accessory is he who stands
hy and aids, abets or assists, or who, not being
present aiding abetting or assisting. hath adj
ris,d, encouraged, aided or dbetted the perpe-
tration of the crime He who thus aids, abets,
assists, adrises or encourages shall be con-
sidercd as principal and punished accordingly
The same principle is embodied in the United
States statutes concerning murder and robbery
upon the high seas, and instruction also.
II makes no difference, then, whether these
men fired the bomb or merely "advised and
encouraged or otherwise plotted the firing.
They were convicted after long and careful
trial, and the justice Of that conviction has
been affirmed by the highest court in the
State. The silly talk about an appeal to the
United States Supreme Court seems to be
dying out. Their only hope is Executive
clemency. II few noisy thousands demand
it, let Governor Oglesby think Of the silent
millions who sternly wait to see justice done.